We have now completed the first draft of this site. We have aligned the content to conform to the APA thesaurus so that articles map onto the standard structure we have for organizing information within our discipline. We have started the process of extending the structure off of this 'spine' to begin the process of developing articles reviewing each area of our discipline in which there is a research focus. To support this further work and the academic credibility of the site we are now moving to develop a peer review system.

The rationale for the development of this site was based on the view that the material on Wikipedia could not form the basis for academic referencing, but that the collaborative editing model could, in principle, allow for the development of an information system that would win the support of the discipline of psychology.

This depends, in part, upon developing a system of peer review that will ensure articles are edited and marked as being of a sufficient standard to meet the academic standards of the profession.

Current proposal

Because of the size of the Psychology Wiki, central control of the peer review process will not be possible so we have to replicate the self organising nature of peer review in the world of printed journals.

The peer review groups will undertake peer review duties on a specified selection of articles. They will organise necessary improvements, commission new articles, review each article thoroughly, and then mark the article as peer reviewed at a particular date. They would then be responsible for maintaining oversight of these articles and approving substantive alterations over time.

The peer review groups may be established through invitation or self appointment. The membership of any group should be transparent and listed in the details of each group. Each group should have a membership of at least five, led by an acknowledged leader in the field. The group should also include an international member and a member in mid career who will provide continuity over time.

The key to the next stage of development of this site rests on the support of those with good reputations within the discipline. If they come forward to provide leadership we can build a site that presents a clear structure of our knowledge base, populated with authoritative, professional updatable articles which will aid in the task of information management within our science.

The membership of these groups and the decisions they make should be open to challenge. In this interim period the system will rely on self policing through the discussion system within the wiki. Eventually, however, there will be a system of arbitration established under the auspices of a national psychological society.